Google’s Loss Brings Attention to Data + Privacy Rights

Kegler Brown Global Business NewsMay 22, 2014by Katja Garvey

On May 13, the European Union Court of Justice (ECJ)
unexpectedly decided the case regarding the so-called "right to be
forgotten" in favor of individuals’ privacy rights. The "right to be
forgotten" enables people to have their digital traces removed from the internet.
The search engine Google can now be required to remove sensitive information
that infringes an individual's privacy rights from its internet search results.

In ruling against the advocate general's
opinion, the ECJ sided with supporters of privacy rights and stated that the
general public's interest of free expression and free speech do not outweigh
privacy infringements. Even though this decision will have an immediate effect only
on companies like Google, it is important to note the European trend in
heightened privacy and data protection. The ECJ's decision is in line with the
Europe's proposed General Data Protection Regulation that, once enacted, will
not affect only European companies, but also American companies processing
personal data of European residents.